Murder of grandmother bludgeoned to death as she slept at £1.6million mansion sparked the biggest DNA screening in the history of Sussex Police - but as the killer remains at large, what next in the hunt for the 'Midsomer murderer?'

Valerie Graves, 55, was killed with a claw hammer in a mansion in West Sussex

Ms Graves was house-sitting for friends over Christmas with her family in 2013

Police issued £10,000 reward to help find her killer on anniversary of death

Sussex Police launched the biggest DNA screening in the force's history

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

They could confirm only that it was DNA belonging to a male aged between 17-65.

Yet despite one of the largest investigations Sussex Police has ever carried out and a number of high profile family appeals, Valerie's killer remains at large.

Police took samples from more than 2,500 men with a connection to the village - but later confirmed they wanted to eliminate another 2,500 from their inquiries.

According to police detectives, Valerie’s body was discovered in the morning by her sister Janet Graves, who initally believed the death to be suicide - but paramedics called to the house quickly identified the area as a crime scene.

Days afterwards, police found the murder weapon - a claw hammer which had been discarded in nearby bushes, alongside a limited DNA profile

Ms Graves was house-sitting in a property in Smugglers Lane, Bosham, when she was savagely killed in her bed just days after celebrating her 55th birthday with family on Christmas Day

Distraught: The siblings were visibly emotional as Mr Wood read out his statement at a press conference

Valerie - a talented artist - is pictured with her children, although the date the picture was taken is unknown

Ms Graves (pictured, date unknown), was a popular artist, grandmother and mother-of-two

Despite one of the largest investigations Sussex Police has ever carried out and a number of high profile family appeals, Valerie's killer remains at large

Experts disagree about the motive behind the murder, with some saying it was a failed burglary while others believe it was a targeted attack.

The village Ms Graves was murdered in - Bosham - is a favourite with ITV drama Midsomer Murders. Bosham featured in the episode, 'Written in Blood'.

An inquest into Valerie's murder in June recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.

The inquest heard Valerie’s bedroom was on the ground floor and the bedroom door was found open.

The room had one external door leading onto a patio at the back of the house.

Valerie was described as someone who was ‘unlikely to offend’ and had recently moved from Scotland to Bracklesham Bay to care for her elderly mother.

Coroner Penelope Schofield re-issed an appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

Emotion: The victim's son Tim Wood paid tribute to her in January during a press conference following her death while sitting alongside his sister Jemima Harrison

Police officers searched the area surrounding the £1.6million home in Bosham, West Sussex, when Ms Graves was found dead in 2013. She had suffered severe head and facial injuries

Experts disagree about the motive behind the murder, with some saying it was a failed burglary while others believe it was a targeted attack

Sussex Police launched its biggest voluntary mass DNA screening in its history asking all men aged over 17 who live, work or visit Bosham to provide a DNA sample to eliminate them from the inquiry.

To date detectives from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team have taken 2,737 DNA samples from men from Bosham or associated to the enquiry in some other way.

Detective Superintendent Jason Taylor said: 'This investigation remains a priority for Sussex Police and we will do everything reasonably possible to find Valerie's killer and get justice for her and her family.

'This time of year is particularly difficult for her family and friends.

'We are still offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Valerie's killer and I would ask anyone who has information to contact police.'

An exhaustive and thorough forensic search got underway at the property after the murder in 2013

Mr Wood said: 'It's hard to carry on knowing that someone is out there able to do it to someone else and knowing that they haven't been caught for what they have done'